Quote: The Te Papa museum is the ultimate must if you are visiting Wellington. Entry is free, but you'll find a donation box as you walk in. The museum showcases some of the best cultural works in New Zealand, along with an in-depth history of the Maori people. You can check the museum website for special events, such as readings, dance shows, and new exhibits. The museum is open every day.
From journals Getting Cultural in Wellington

Quote: I am not very fond of museums normally, but this is a MUST-SEE! This is a great museum and a good place to take kids. You will learn almost everything there is to know about New Zealand, including its history and culture from the very beginning to the present. You will see an exhibit about New Zealand's natural forces, including earthquakes, volcanoes, and plants and animals. Bush City is an outdoor exhibit that recreates New Zealand's natural habitats. A great exhibit is dedicated to the Maori culture, and other exhibits include the history of immigration to New Zealand, the significance of sheep to the country, and an art gallery.

Te Papa is definitely worth a visit. Forget just looking at objects behind layers of glass, as Te Papa has a look-and-touch kind of setup with lots of buttons and knobs to press and flashy lights. The stay-in exhibits are interesting to view and read information about, but the main attractions can be the short-term exhibits, such as Lord of the Rings, which ended earlier this year. You pay for such exhibits and some of the rides. The Virtual Bungee is great fun, as was the virtual sheep-shearing.

General entrance is free, but there are donation boxes if you’re feeling generous. It will take a good portion of the day to view all levels of the exhibits; don’t be fooled and try and rush everything within an afternoon. You will find something really interesting, and just as you get into the story, you have to go. There are a number of cafés and restaurants in Te Papa on every level, so you can stop halfway for a snack, lunch, or dinner. Also, there are shops in Te Papa, so you can purchase an everlasting memento of Te Papa.

From journals Wellington

Quote: The Te Tapa Museum is the pride of Wellington, being as it is the museum of art, history, Maori culture and the natural environment. Located at the edge of the water, it is a beautiful architectural structure. It is an extremely high-tech museum, offering as it does many virtual reality experiences. Specifically, there are virtual bunjy jumping, virtual earthquake, virtual sheep shearing, and so on and so forth. Virtual bunjy jumping is a tourist trap, but it is a fun one nevertheless. It started with you being harnessed to a steel structure, which is then turned upside down. While upside down, you see a video that mimics the actual experience of bunjy jumping. I actually felt queazy, as if I actually went on a bunjy jumping ride. Many people who get out of this exhibit do look green, as if they had just jumped a hundred feet. It's all in good fun.

The top floor of Te Tapa also has a good exhibit on Maori art, with a good collection of Maori masks and houses. Besides a newly created Maori meeting hall, which the artists carved out of new wood material, you can see old Maori treasures, including a fairly sizable Maori canoe. Although it does not rival the Auckland Museum in sheer grandeur, it is still a beautiful example of Maori art and culture. Admission to the Museum is free, although the virtual exhibits may cost you a minimal amount.
From journals Wellington, the windy capital

Quote: It's a must! The children area will keep the kids busy, and the adults busier if you don't leave before getting involved! They have a nature track, a maori track, one for history, another for art, the temporary exhibitions, and the kids'. You can take an audio guide, book a tour, or buy the booklet and self-guide your party through what interests you, especially if you won't have much time to spare, they recommend a 'Te Papa in a Hurry' tour that is quite complete. But take my word: you'll want to give it a whole day.
From journals A Journey through New Zealand I - North Island